St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-20

was stillIgreen and inviting, and yielding
to the old boyish impulse, threw my
self at full length upon the ground, in
Imagination, once more child upon the
dear New England homestead by the
sea. | was dreamily losing
myself in fond memories when my foot
touched something hard, and lazily
lean ing upon one elbow. / fumbled
among the dead leaves collected under
the low bushes that line the bank, and
drew forth a small pOcket-tiask partly
filled with a dark liquid. 1t had evil
IDENTITY been tn ere for some time, for it
was encrusted with dirt and the cork
was discolOred and waterSOaked. TAX
ing handful of leaves | rubbed away
for few moments, and to my glad
a cut-glasS brandy flask of eX
quiSite workmanship. On one side APP
peared grand castle, its turretS and
towers, commanding, from an elevated
position, fine view of the country and
river dotted with sails flowing in the
distance; the opposite side bore the
figure of a young girl, Enthusiastically
dressed in Oriental costume and bear
ing on her finely poised head we'll
heaped basket of grapes. took out the
cork and Smelt of the contents, which
proved to be very good quality of
brandy. Delighted at securing this rare
addition to my cabinet, | was placing
it in my coat pocket, very
much wishing to know its history,
when ! heard q low voice near me.
Casting my eyes about | could discover
no one but an old man busily at work Oh
raft in the stream far below. The
wind was rising and | bethought my
self of going, when again | heard
muffied voice that seemed to come from
the inmost depths of my pocket. I'm
buttOning my coat | took out the flask.
when TO my amaZement in a hOarSe,
mOurnful tone it was speaking. The
StOpple fell out and gathering strength
from the fresh air, it said:
"Autumn froStS and rains have done
their work, my energy is fast ebbing
away; if you would know the events of
my checkered life, listen" And with a
sigh and gurgle. as | laid it gently
upon one side, the bottle began its story.
Il was a sort of a family keepsake,
having been imported to st. Paul from
Europe, and, after being drained of my
contents, was consigned to dark.
rOOmy garnet in fine old mansion OH
Summit avenue, where | lay unused
and uncared for through many a long,
dreary year, until, one bright spring
morning, the daughter of my owner.
who was as good as she was pretty,
fished me out of the darkness, wiped
the cObwebS from my brow and, having
polished me with soft cloth, placed me
in conspicuous position OH the massive
Sideboard in the great dining room. in
company with numerous other bottles
and decanterS. There | stood for sew
eral months, enjoying the gay dinners
and guests. my fine texture and deli
cate tracery calling forth the envy
of all the other bottles. But | was
happy in those days, for my mistress
busted me every morning with her own
white hand and, holding me up TO the
sunlight. would tell me how beautiful l
was. One day. having filled me with
wine. she replaced the glass stopple
(fOr that was before misfortune over
took me- and slowed me away in her
trunk among daintily perfumed cloth
ing. By night we were upon the train
speeding toward the East. and when |
next saw the daylight it was from my
post of honor on her toilet table in a
rambling, old-fashiOned cottage in New
York city.
Il never grew tired of watching my
mistress array herself in dresses for
balls and parties, and know she was a
favorite, for she always came home
bringing choice flowers. Zone night"
and here the voice of the bottle grew
tremulouS. ''she had dressed herself in
white satin, with a necklace of pearls
at her throat. All, she was very beauti-
full, but her cheek was paler than
usual, and just rs she was leaving the
room she caught Inc up and drank from
me. 1t was the first time L had ever
felt the touch of her warm, redl lips, and
| thrill with pleasure even now at the
recollection.
"You should have seen the letters that
came to her, mostly postmarked st.
PAUL. How eagerly she would scan
them, with sometimes a panied look on
her sweet cOuntenance, as if missing
something among them. But there was
one, whenever it came, she would single
from all the rest. 1t never failed to
bring glad light to her eye, and when
she sat near me could see that it was
always written in the same masculine,
businesS-like hand. She would smile
as she finished it and pass on to
the next. And once week. dainty as
a flower in soft blue morning gown,
with her lovely golden curls falling like
sunlight about her. she would sit at her
writing table and write buSily the whole
morning.
But by and by, when the warm spring
days came, she lOnged for home, and.
bidding her friends goodbye, started
for st. Paul. This time did not travel
in the trunk, but in neat Satchel along
with other indispensable articles OF the
journey. She was not well, l am quite
sure, for she used me frequently.
rInI IL b. Il Il 1ln<.